Behavior of the Adversary was Conditioned by a Range of Factors: Arayik Harutyunyan
Arayik Harutyunyan, NKR Prime Minister, was the guest of Armenia TV’s R-Evolution. Interview of reporter Satik Seyranyan with the NKR PM is introduced below.
Satik Seyranyan: Statement by Serzh Sargsyan, RA president, in Germany that we were fighting with the armaments of the 80s was differently perceived in Armenia. What does it mean to you?
Arayik Harutyunyan: In my opinion, by that statement the president attempted to introduce the spirit of Karabakhi people, the spirit of our Armenian army, as, first and foremost, we succeeded to resist and fight due to that spirit. As I took part in the 90s Artsakh war and I know what armaments and ammunition correlation was then (one to ten, one to fifty) , I’ll say now it’s almost equal. On the whole, let me mention, that Armenian army doesn’t withdraw neither by armaments, nor by quantity. If during the previous war we had to get permission for shooting a projectile, as we had problems or were responding one to hundred by quantity and quality, presently, we were giving a response, not one to one, but even more, which provided the opportunity to shuffle their cards in a short period. Generally, the attacking side has great advantage, and records considerable success throughout first days or months, however, it advanced for only a few hours, and after it the reverse occurred, and I assure, we even have some privilege.
Satik Seyranyan: Let’s pass on to the statement made by you: “We are ready for a compromise, but not for returning territories.” What does it mean?
Arayik Harutyunyan: By saying compromise we understand the one before us is able to listen, and is also ready for a compromise. However, we have an adversary, readiness for compromising of which isn’t felt at all. I may only say, we don’t anticipate to record some success at the negotiation table, especially, by our adversary. And if negotiations will be launched, surely, we’re ready for a compromise, without opening the brackets, without defining land size, it’s a topic for negotiations.
Satik Seyranyan: The April four-day war, besides military-political implications, brought forward serious economic and social after-effects. Why did the adversary attack on those very directions? As much as I’m informed, NKR Government implements lots of programs in those parts.
Arayik Harutyunyan: Firstly, I don’t want to make statements, that the adversary took into account that very fact—economic policy, and has deeper calculations by north-south directions. And yet in the period of April 3-4 we felt their movement in central directions as well. Supposedly, this was a result of strategy. Yes, we launched big investment programs both in the south and in the north. Biggest investments have been made in the northern part, taking into consideration the importance and strategy of those villages, and I’m sure our losses didn’t have such a big impact on NKR economy. We faced problems in all our programs, but it’s temporary. Presently we don’t face any problems.
Satik Seyranyan: Before touching upon separate branches of economy, would you speak of settlement programs? These days people have been evacuated, destroyed settlements comprise a great number. What will be implemented in this regard?
Arayik Harutyunyan: If we feel there aren’t any further military operations, we’ll first of all intensively reconstruct Mataghis. It seems to be completely restored with the exception of a few houses. People are ready to return to their homes, we need to count risks, particularly, when we face problems in Talish. We haven’t decided yet, different proposals are available, like settling Talishi people in other locations. As soon as we have a guarantee, we’ll offer them to move to their homes. I’m convinced, most part of Talishi people want to live there, and some of them—in other settlements of Karabakh.
Satik Seyranyan: These days it’s being much talked in Armenia, that the Government should appear with a legislative initiative to support families of the killed, wounded and etc. Which steps are taken in Karabakh in this regard or it’s not the time, as tension hasn’t weakened?
Arayik Harutyunyan: Those families are the ones with some benefits—pensions, subsidies and etc, i.e. a program by the state is available. I don’t say it’s enough, but we have to pay more attention after these days. However, I may also mention, that lots of our compatriots supported those families, especially to the families of killed servicemen, and I’m sure, we’ll have the possibility to support the wounded soldiers as well. I might only say that the issue will be in the center of the Government’s attention.
Satik Seyranyan: Already USD 8 million has been accumulated on the account, how are you going to use that amount? And what Karabakh needs most now?
Arayik Harutyunyan: Firstly, the amount has already exceeded USD 10 million, but the money is more, as food and other support reach billions, and we’ll try to publish them in near future. Many people call from abroad, saying they are able to allocate this much money, and we ask them to send vehicles or other equipment, as it’s more affordable there. As for concrete direction, together with our Minister of Defense we launched works, firstly directed to rising combat readiness of the Defense army. For certain reasons we don’t open the brackets.
Satik Seyranyan: International analytical companies explain Aliyev’s steps by fall in price for oil and economic condition. As a PM, manager of economy, I’d like you to draw parallel lines—how is it linked to the economic condition and fall in price for oil?
Arayik Harutyunyan: Certainly, economic grounding is available: why Azerbaijan resumed war exactly now and what economic analysis shows. First and foremost, decline in volumes of oil production have been recorded. It’s visible for already a few years, and decline temps will be greater in near future. I mean production. Secondly, it brings forward financial issues, rise in price for oil in the forthcoming years isn’t observed. And thirdly, Azerbaijan faces another big issue: it has gas, but faces a problem wth consumption. It’s mainly surrounded by countries with gas reserves. Not counting Armenia, Georgia and Turkey, all other neighbors have gas, and vice versa—they are gas suppliers. That’s why if it doesn’t make use of that possibility, in near future it’ll face big financial problems, especially, when it allocated big money for purchase of armaments, and due to lack of means, it attempted to give its potential, but it failed.
Satik Seyranyan: It means by this aggression Azerbaijan attempts to settle not only its internal, but external issues as well, and signals were directed not only to Armenia.
Arayik Harutyunyan: There are a few groundings for that—offshore scandal [Panama offshore scandal], domestic policy, reduction of external reserves linked to fall in price for oil, social issues. I mentioned, that on the other hand, they purchased big amount of armaments throughout years, which need to be used. All these are groundings or calculations, accordingly, we shouldn’t think of when and what behavior the adversary has adopted. We should always be ready.
Satik Seyranyan: What do you think, will the adversary undertake new military operations?
Arayik Harutyunyan: The adversary is unpredictable, but all calculations show that—no. As it didn’t record power domination these days, juts the contrary, it understood, if the war goes on, it’ll suffer losses not only of manpower, but financial and regional as well. It realizes this, and is sure in it, and I always call my compatriots be more restrained. In fact, we have an efficient army, shortcomings are available everywhere, but the fact, that our army performed its duty with dignity, it’s a fact, and I’m sure, the frontline is calm now due to it.
Satik Seyranyan: What lessons did we learn from the four-day war, which we took hardly, than the 90s?
Arayik Harutyunyan: We need to pay more attention to the army, we need to be next to our army, in any case, we need to be consolidated and more patriot. However, we faced issues as well, for which I regret. Yes, we should speak of gaps, but not by pointing at them. If shortcomings are available, we need to support to remove them, we need to work together, and try to develop our army and economy together.
